Satellites: What Are They?

When most people hear the word ‘satellite’ they probably picture a man-made machine floating around in outer space beaming telephone calls and satellite TV back down to the planet. Although this would be an example of a satellite, it’s not the only kind. In fact, a satellite is technically defined as anything that is caught in orbit around something else. For example, Earth can be considered a satellite of the Sun, while the moon may be considered a satellite of the Earth since they are both in another object’s orbit.

The satellites we usually envision are the ones we use to relay information. These are usually called artificial or man-made satellites. These satellites are used for everything from providing GPS driving directions to broadcasting satellite TV. In fact, without the satellites we have today, everything from our telephone service to our ability to monitor weather would be drastically affected.

Satellites: Why Do We Need Them?

In the simplest sense, satellites are a relay point for information; which basically means that they receive information from one source, and transmit that information to another source. In order to send transmissions from one point to another, however, there needs to be an unobstructed straight line between the two points. In other words, there needs to be a clear line of sight.

Since the earth is spherical, transmissions made from one ground level location to another ground level location are inherently limited since the curvature of the earth itself will prevent a clear line of sight after only a short distance. For this reason, ground level transmissions are usually sent from towers in order to create a longer line of sight. Satellites are simply an extension of this idea.

A satellite that is orbiting earth has a clear line of sight to a profoundly larger area, and thus can effectively transmit a signal across greater distances. In fact, one satellite alone can potentially transmit to the entire United States when properly positioned.

Satellite TV

One of the most notable uses for satellite has been in the telecommunications area. Satellite TV, for instance, is a great example of how satellites can not only increase efficiency, but quality as well.

Since satellite TV can transmit a signal across such a large area, just one satellite alone can bring satellite TV to millions of people. Rather than run cables to each and every home like the cable companies do, satellites can simply transmit the information across the sky and into our homes.

Additionally, Satellite TV transmits digitally which allows the signal to go significantly further while carrying much more information. The satellite TV transmissions are so effective that satellite TV companies can tout a 99.9% signal reliability. The large amount of information that can be sent over a digital transmission allows for satellite TV companies to broadcast hundreds of channels as well as tons of high definition programming all over the country.

The effective use of satellites allows for satellite TV service to be available everywhere in the United States including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. Because satellite TV companies don’t face the high costs of running cable to each and every home, and then continually maintaining that cable, the satellite TV companies can provide service to residents in rural or remote locations.

To find out for yourself why satellite TV is a great alternative to cable, call Sterling Satellite today at 1-800-299-5610 and hear why satellite TV is right for you.

Satellite TV in the U.S.

In the United States there are two primary satellite TV providers; DISH Network and DirecTV. Unlike cable companies, satellite TV providers are able to offer service to the entire country because of the huge area that can be covered by just a single satellite. Without the burden of running wires to each and every house, like cable companies do, satellite TV providers can simply transmit their signal digitally to anywhere with a clear view of the sky. However, this wasn’t the case just a few decades ago.

History of Satellite TV providers

In 1976 HBO became the first company to use satellites to deliver programming to cable providers. Soon after, more and more companies followed in HBO’s footsteps and thus the beginning of satellite TV service was underway. Interestingly, when companies like HBO first started to use satellites, it wasn’t meant to provide satellite TV to home viewers; only to get the programming to cable providers who then sold the content to users.

Back in 1976, receiving satellite TV required a prohibitively large and costly satellite dish. This made it unrealistic for the vast majority of individuals to receive satellite TV in their home. It was clear then that in order for satellite TV to stand as an effective alternative to cable television, then the cost and size of satellite dishes would have to decrease dramatically. Fortunately, this is exactly what happened over the ensuing years.

Satellite TV companies solved the problem of high equipment costs by offering to loan satellite TV dishes to subscribers. This way, individuals would not have to purchase expensive equipment, and satellite TV companies could survive through increased subscriptions. To this day satellite TV companies still use this model in order to make satellite TV service as affordable as possible.

Why Satellite TV?

As technology has advanced, so has the quality of satellites and satellite TV transmissions. Today, satellite TV providers are able to transmit programs across huge distances without significant quality loss. In fact, satellite TV providers in the United States are now able to achieve a 99.9% signal reliability rate. Plus, the digital transmissions themselves can carry an impressive amount of information, allowing for satellite TV subscribers to enjoy hundreds of different channels (many of which are now broadcast in high definition).

For residents of rural areas who don’t have access to cable television, satellite TV has become a great alternative. Even in areas with available cable many people have begun to switch to satellite TV because it tends to offer more channels for less. Although prices and availability of cable can vary wildly by location, satellite TV usually offers consistently lower prices. To find out other great reasons to switch to satellite, including available deals for new subscribers, call Sterling Satellite today at 1-800-299-5610.

How Satellite TV works

In the simplest sense, satellite TV is a television service that uses satellites to relay TV signals to consumers across the country. In order to receive the signal, satellite TV users must have both a satellite dish and a converter box. The satellite dish is what physically receives the signal from the satellite, while the converter box translates that signal into the television programs you watch. Most satellite TV providers supply this equipment to their subscribers for free in order to keep costs down.

Satellites are highly efficient for broadcasting TV because a single satellite alone can transmit across thousands of miles. A telecommunications satellite, for example, may receive its information from one central location on earth, and then relay that information to another location thousands of miles away. Since satellites orbit the earth from outer space, they have a direct line of sight to large portions of the globe, which means they can cover expansive areas.

The ability to disperse information quickly and accurately over a large area makes satellites the perfect means to bring cable television into the homes of millions of people. Unlike traditional cable, you don’t need wires with satellite TV; which means that anyone with a clear view of the sky should be able to get a satellite TV signal. Plus, the only equipment you need to get a satellite TV signal in your home is a satellite dish and a converter box – which means you don’t have to wait for the cable company to offer service in your area.

Satellite TV History

The basic technology used for satellite TV has been around for nearly fifty years. In 1962, the Telestar satellite became the first satellite to successfully receive and relay a television signal. Just a few years later in 1967, the world’s first national satellite television service, known as Orbita, was launched in the Soviet Union. Since then, the popularity and availability of satellite TV has expanded enormously, and satellite TV can now be accessed in even some of the most remote corners of the world.

Satellite TV Today in the United States

Today’s satellite TV companies almost always transmit their signal digitally, since digital signals are less susceptible to interference, and because it allows for a higher rate of data transmission. By using a digital signal, satellite TV providers are able to transmit a signal that has an impressive 99.9% reliability rate and can carry impressive quality sound and video as well.

The availability and quality of satellite TV has made it a popular alternative to conventional cable television. Since cable companies don’t always offer service to residents in rural and remote areas of the country, satellite TV has served as a fantastic alternative.

Even in urban areas residents have been increasingly turning to satellite TV for their subscription television services. Dissatisfaction with the cable company over the years has led many users to cut the cord entirely and switch to satellite TV.

If you’re thinking about switching to satellite TV, call Sterling Satellite today at 1-800-299-5610 to find even more great reasons why satellite TV is perfect for you.

Satellite TV is Growing

Although traditional cable is still the most popular pay TV service, satellite TV is quickly growing in popularity. Through a combination of great service, great deals, and the ability for nearly everyone to access the service, satellite TV companies have carved out a sizable market share for themselves.

What Satellite TV Companies Offer

Many people in the more rural areas of the country don’t have access to cable because it is simply unprofitable for the cable companies to install and maintain cable lines to these homes. In these cases, satellite TV is a perfect alternative. Rather than cables and wires running from house to house, all you need to get a satellite TV is a clear view of the sky.

Even when cable service is available in these areas, many people decide to use satellite TV because of the great deals available among the different satellite TV providers. Since competing satellite TV companies like DISH Network and DirecTV are available to everyone in the country, there is fierce competition for each subscriber. This competition almost always translates into bigger and better deals for subscribers.

Yet another reason users seem to be flocking towards satellite TV is the high cost of cable. DISH Network as well as DirecTV tend to offer more channels for less when compared to cable providers. And since cable providers are often regionally based, access to their service and their deals is always subject to availability. On the other hand, satellite TV companies serve the entire country, and their deals almost always apply to everyone in it.

What Else Can Satellite TV Companies Offer?

With satellite TV you get both quality and quantity. Since most satellites and satellite TV companies transmit digitally, they’re often able to achieve 99.9% signal reliability, which means the signal is there when you want it to be. Plus, since digital signals can travel further and carry more information at the same time, satellite TV companies can even bring high definition programming directly into your home. Add all that to the hundreds of channels available in a number of different packages offered by various satellite TV companies, and it’s easy to see how you get both quality and quantity with satellite TV.

If you’re thinking about switching to satellite TV, call Sterling Satellite at 1-800-299-5610 to find out even more great reasons to cut the cord today!